GUI-facilitated centralizing methods and systems

Abstract

Graphical User Interface (GUI) facilitated centralization methods and system, including a method that includes displaying a graphical representation of a tubular string within a borehole, accepting an interactive graphical selection of a starting location for a range along the borehole, and accepting an interactive graphical selection of an ending location for the range along the borehole. The method further includes determining string stand-off device positions that provide centralization within the range, and providing said positions to field personnel assembling and placing the tubular string in the borehole.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) facilitated centralization method, the method comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of a tubular string within a borehole; 
 accepting an interactive graphical selection of a starting location for a range along the borehole; 
 accepting an interactive graphical selection of an ending location for the range along the borehole; 
 determining string stand-off device positions that provide centralization of the tubular string within the range along the borehole; and 
 providing said positions to field personnel assembling and placing the tubular string in the borehole. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular string comprises a pipe string, a drillstring or a production tubing. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accepting an interactive graphical adjustment to the range starting location or the range ending location. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 executing a first simulation of the tubular string within the borehole to identify one or more predicted locations where the tubular string buckles or contacts the borehole wall; and 
 determining at least one string stand-off device position based at least in part on the one or more predicted locations. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 executing a second simulation of the tubular string within the borehole that includes the at least one string stand-off device; and 
 providing the at least one string stand-off device position if the second simulation indicates that the at least one string stand-off device reduces the tubular string buckling or contacting with the borehole wall compared to the first simulation. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying borehole or tubular string information as part of the graphical representation. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the borehole or tubular string information is selected from the group consisting of a borehole range, a borehole range start location, a borehole range end location, a tubular string outer diameter, a tubular string inner diameter, a borehole inner diameter, a borehole depth and a bottom hole assembly outer diameter. 
     
     
       8. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) facilitated centralization system, comprising:
 a memory having tubular string centralization software; and 
 one or more processors coupled to the memory, the software causing the one or more processors to:
 display a graphical representation of a tubular string within a borehole; 
 accept an interactive graphical selection of a starting location for a range along the borehole; 
 accept an interactive graphical selection of an ending location for the range along the borehole; 
 determine string stand-off device positions that provide centralization of the tubular string within the range along the borehole; and 
 provide said positions to field personnel that assemble and place the tubular string in the borehole. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular string comprises a pipe string, a drillstring or a production tubing. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the software further causes the one or more processors to accept an interactive graphical adjustment to the range starting location or the range ending location. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the software further causes the one or more processors to:
 execute a first simulation of the tubular string within the borehole to identify one or more predicted locations where the tubular string buckles or contacts the borehole wall; and 
 determine at least one string stand-off device position based at least in part on the one or more predicted locations. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the software further causes the one or more processors to:
 execute a second simulation of the tubular string within the borehole that includes the at least one string stand-off device; and 
 provide the at least one string stand-off device position if the second simulation indicates that the at least one string stand-off device reduces the tubular string buckling or contacting with the borehole wall compared to the first simulation. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the software further causes the one or more processors to display borehole or tubular string information as part of the graphical representation. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the borehole or tubular string information is selected from the group consisting of a borehole range, a borehole range start location, a borehole range end location, a tubular string outer diameter, a tubular string inner diameter, a borehole inner diameter, a borehole depth and a bottom hole assembly outer diameter. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory information storage medium comprising Graphical User Interface (GUI) facilitated centralization software that comprises:
 a range definition module that accepts an interactive graphical selection of a starting location for a range along a borehole, and further accepts an interactive graphical selection of an ending location for the range along the borehole; 
 a presentation module that displays a graphical representation of a tubular string within the borehole, and further displays the range along the borehole as part of the graphical representation; and 
 a positioning module that determines string stand-off device positions that provide centralization of the tubular string within the range along the borehole, and further provides said positions to field personnel that assemble and place the tubular string in the borehole. 
 
     
     
       16. The medium of  claim 15 , wherein the tubular string comprises a pipe string, a drillstring or a production tubing. 
     
     
       17. The medium of  claim 15 , wherein the range definition module further accepts an interactive graphical adjustment to the range starting location or the range ending location. 
     
     
       18. The medium of  claim 15 ,
 wherein a tubular string simulator performs a first simulation of the tubular string within the borehole to identify one or more predicted locations where the tubular string buckles or contacts the borehole wall; and 
 wherein the positioning module further defines at least one string stand-off device position based at least in part on the one or more predicted locations. 
 
     
     
       19. The medium of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the tubular string simulator further performs a second simulation of the tubular string within the borehole that includes the at least one string stand-off device; and 
 wherein the positioning module further provides the at least one string stand-off device position if the second simulation indicates that the at least one string stand-off device reduces the tubular string buckling or contacting with the borehole wall compared to the first simulation. 
 
     
     
       20. The medium of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the presentation module further displays borehole or tubular string information as part of the graphical representation; and 
 wherein the borehole or tubular string information is selected from the group consisting of a borehole range, a borehole range start location, a borehole range end location, a tubular string outer diameter, a tubular string inner diameter, a borehole inner diameter, a borehole depth and a bottom hole assembly outer diameter.